Cacao originated in South America, and when the beans were introduced to Africa, they became known as Forasteros (“strangers”), a term that has since become synonymous with the world's most commonly grown varietal. Another term you might encounter is Amelonado, the traditional cultivar domesticated from the Brazilian Amazon. Original Beans uses this term but, regardless of the name, this cocoa is undeniably delicious. It embodies textbook Swiss chocolate quality and characteristics, boasting a smooth, silky texture and a flavour reminiscent of chocolate liqueur. It strikes a balance with just enough tannin for a satisfying mouthfeel and just enough sweetness for a delightful aftertaste.
Original Beans Virunga Congo 70%
Cocoa Origin: Congo
Producer Country: Switzerland
Weight: 70 g
Regular price
$11.86
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Original Beans Virunga Congo 70%
Regular price
$11.86
Original Beans, like me, aims to create a food culture that regenerates our world and encourages people to think more about what they eat. Since 2008, they have ventured into remote rainforests to source some of the world's rarest (and fairest) cacao beans. By many standards, including the Be Slavery Free organization's "Chocolate Scorecard," they lead the industry in traceability, transparency, and living income, ranking as the #1 most sustainable chocolate company globally. The company's founder, Philipp, left his job at the United Nations with the goal of creating one of the world's first climate-positive companies and, true to his word, Original Beans was the first chocolate maker to pledge planting one tree for every bar sold, use compostable foil, and become carbon neutral. Their dedication to the environment extends to the communities they work with and to the delicious quality of their products, which often finds its way into Michelin-starred restaurants and premier hotels. This isn't surprising given the superior quality of their raw ingredients: wild and foraged cocoa, Swiss dairy milk, and "raw" cane sugar that has not been carbonated or decolorized.
Shop More Original BeansVirunga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site established in 1925, sprawls across approximately 8000 square kilometers in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, bordering Uganda and Rwanda. The park's diverse landscapes feature a range of elevations, climates, and habitats, boasting both the highest (3000 mm) and lowest (500 mm) recorded rainfalls in the republic. Permanently snow-capped peaks and glaciers grace parts of the Ruwenzori Mountains, while the park also houses two active volcanoes, lava plains, savannas, peat bogs, marshes, and various forests, including tropical rainforest and bamboo. Situated in the Albertine Rift Valley, Virunga is pivotal to the Congo-Nile watershed area, serving as a crucial conservation corridor. Its rich biodiversity includes over 3,000 species, such as the
endangered eastern gorilla, elephants, lions, hippos, and the elusive okapi, making it a focal point for conservation efforts.
